Hagy’s Catfish Hotel

15052008

Jim Hagy, co-owner of Hagy’s Catfish Hotel, left a comment on my post about my trip to Shiloh last year (see here). Just so there is no misunderstanding, here’s Jim’s comment and my response – the bottom line is, no Civil War field trip to Shiloh is complete without a stop at Hagy’s:

Hi Mr. Smeltzer,

I happened across your blog. Very interesting and great reading. I wanted to apologize for your experience at the Catfish Hotel in Shiloh. My sister and I are the owners.

We are looking at expanding the waiting area to create a more comfortable space for guests that are on a list for a table. I apologize as well for the rude strange gentleman who made you the target of his discontent. I find it helpful to look on the 1% percent of the population who spill their unhappiness on everyone as a reminder to appreciate the other 99% of the human race who are so great.

Please come back to visit us. We appreciate your business.

Best,

Jim Hagy

My reply:

Jim,

There seems to be an impression that I was upset with my experience at Hagy’s, and I want to correct that: I really wasn’t. I think after a long hot day in the field such as we had, any fried fish was going to taste about the same unless it was badly done, and the most important thing was cold drinks! By no means was the flat-topped fellow (an assistant high school football coach type, with pants firmly ensconced above his belly button) representative of the customers. And it was a pleasant evening so waiting on the porch was not a problem at all. A long line is a nice problem for a restaurant to have, no? As Yogi Berra once said, “Nobody goes there anymore. Too many people go there.” If I’m ever in the area again, I’m pretty sure I’ll make a return visit to Hagy’s.

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I find it amusing that I can say “That catfish place at Shiloh” and darn near everyone knows the place I’m referring to. I must admit that a large number of the fish have been sacrificed at the Catfish Hotel over the years in order to feed this hungry battlefield visitor. When traveling with a group, the experience is much enhanced, as the wait is more tolerable. How many hours I’ve passed on that balcony discussing Lew Wallace and Grant? Can’t tell you, still one of my favorite topics.

OK, here’s the deal: somebody has been trying to post a comment here. I don’t care if they agree with me or not, but if anyone wants a comment posted, use proper spelling, capitalization, punctuation, syntax, and structure. And be polite, to my readers and to me. Otherwise the comment won’t see the light of day.

Dulce bellum inexpertis

“I am sending you these little incidents as I hear them well authenticated. They form, to the friends of the parties, part of the history of the glorious 21st. More anon.”

About

Hello! I’m Harry Smeltzer and welcome to Bull Runnings, where you'll find my digital history project on the First Battle of Bull Run which is organized under the Bull Run Resources section. I'll also post my thoughts on the processes behind the project and commentary on the campaign, but pretty much all things Civil War are fair game. You'll only find musings on my “real job” or my personal life when they relate to this project. My mother always told me "never discuss politics or religion in mixed company”, and that's sound advice where current events are concerned.

The Project

This site is more than a blog. Bull Runnings also hosts digitized material pertaining to First Bull Run. In the Bull Run Resources link in the masthead and also listed below are links to Orders of Battle, After Action Reports, Official Correspondence, Biographical Sketches, Diaries, Letters, Memoirs, Newspaper Accounts and much, much more. Take some time to surf through the material. This is a work in process with no end in sight, so check back often!